Georgia father being charged with murder after leaving son in hot car

Atlanta, GA (WXIA) — A Georgia father is charged with murder after allegedly leaving his toddler in a hot car.

"Right now these charges will stand."

Cobb county police are facing scrutiny for charging 33-year-old, Justin Ross Harris for murder and cruelty to children in the death of his son. Harris told police he left his 22-month-old in his SUV by accident after forgetting to drop him off at daycare on Wednesday.

Now, thousands of people are defending Harris by signing an online petition asking the district attorney to drop the charges.

People are even raising money online for his family and their expenses.

Still, police say it was no accident, implying there is more to the story than people know.

One police sergeant told CNN: "What I know about the case shocks my conscience as a police officer, a father, and a grandfather."

According to Harris' arrest warrant the temperature in the SUV reached 88 degrees.

Now police have doubts if the child was left in the hot car for several hours like Harris said. Investigators have been tight-lipped about why.

"So they think there is more to this. They are looking at that child for any injuries that may have occurred prior to this death."

Harris told police once he realized his son was in the backseat, he pulled into a busy Atlanta shopping center.

A witness says he: "Pulled his child out, laid him on the concrete. Tried to resuscitate him."

Results from the child's autopsy have not been released yet, but they should shed more light on this tragedy.

Thursday, Harris pleaded not guilty to felony murder and cruelty to children charges.

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